Best of the Breakdown Shot Clock Classic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The more things change the more they stay the same. At least that's how it looked on Monday at the Breakdown Shot Clock Classic where Hopkins looked like Hopkins and Hopkins looked really, really good. Of course, it's mid-summer and the games don't count for real. The high school season, in fact, is five months into the future but as summer previews go it was a good one. The one-day event was a great opportunity for us to get a sneak preview of some quality teams and for the players to get some real-life reps with the new shot clock running.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a format that featured three high-school officials, two 18-minute stop-time halves and the soon-to-be official 35-second shot clock, the folks at Breakdown provided a nice opportunity for teams to dip a toe in the water for the upcoming season. We watched four games at Concordia University in St. Paul and there were four more played at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Here are some of our observations from the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PLAYER OF THE DAY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='178269' first='Liv' last='McGill'] <strong>– 2024 guard, Hopkins</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hopkins vs Lakeville North matchup was only a few minutes old when it became obvious that Liv had come to play. The #2-rated prospect in Minnesota's Class of 2024 – many make the case that she should be #1 and we're not going to argue the point – was fresh from a tour of Italy with an Adidas all-star team. McGill came out flying and soon seized the game by the throat as the Royals put the Panthers on their heels almost immediately.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just four minutes in, McGill blew past her defender with equal parts speed, skill and physicality, elevated way up high, and scored on a scoop layup through traffic while drawing a foul. The free throw made it 13-4 for the Royals. Before the period was half over McGill did it again, picking the pocket of a Lakeville ball handler, and scoring in transition to cap a 10-0 run that made the score 28-10 in Hopkins' favor. The University of Florida commit finished the first half with 17 points, having staked her team to a 19-point lead. The second half was a little closer but Hopkins prevailed by a score of 78-64.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the departure of standouts <strong>Nunu Agara</strong> to Stanford and <strong>Taylor Woodson</strong> to Michigan, many folks seem to be underestimating how good Hopkins will be this season. That would be a grievous error. This is McGill's team now and she quarterbacked an impressive young crew that includes [player_tooltip player_id='296531' first='Tatum' last='Woodson'], [player_tooltip player_id='215457' first='London' last='Harris'], [player_tooltip player_id='339206' first='Maliyah' last='White'], and freshman post [player_tooltip player_id='558627' first='Erma' last='Walker'], who put up 16 points against North. Hopkins might be different but they should still be deadly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TOP PERFORMERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":687452,"width":512,"height":470,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/06/Nicole-Maenke_062623.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-687452" width="512" height="470" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='215969' first='Nicole' last='Maenke'] – The 2024 Top 40 guard from Shakopee announced her commitment to D2 Southwest Minnesota State this week and against Rosemount the shifty senior-to-be made it obvious why she has earned that opportunity. Shakopee came out running and gunning from three to take control of the proceedings early. Maenke finished with 24 points in the 60-50 victory, going 6-for-7 at the free throw line and making four triples.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":687451,"width":497,"height":512,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/06/Dani-Coleman_062623.jpg?w=994" alt="" class="wp-image-687451" width="497" height="512" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='339143' first='Danielle' last='Coleman'] – The 2025 wing from Lakeville South had a really strong performance against White Bear Lake. When she is aggressive and attacking, the Top 30 prospect in her class looks every bit a D1 prospect. That was the case in a convincing 88-54 win against the Bears as Dani scored 17 to lead the Cougars to the win. Kansas State commit [player_tooltip player_id='178270' first='Finley' last='Ohnstad'] scored 14.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":687461,"width":474,"height":512,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/06/Ella-Frazier_062623.jpg?w=947" alt="" class="wp-image-687461" width="474" height="512" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='453781' first='Ella' last='Frazier'] – The 2025 guard from Mahtomedi is always a weapon on the defensive side of the equation and the Breakdown event was no exception. In the second half against Park Cottage Grove, Ella's offensive abilities came alive, as well. She had 11 points in period 2 and 15 for the game. 2024 Top 60 standout [player_tooltip player_id='304927' first='Ella' last='Kletti'] had 20 to pace the Zephyrs while 2025 #26 [player_tooltip player_id='296747' first='Anna' last='Greene'] scored 14.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FRESH FACES TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hailey Kieffer – 2025 guard, Park Cottage Grove</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'8 junior-to-be looked really good for the Wolfpack. We've watched her with Southern Minnesota Fury this summer but Hailey's potential really stood out Monday as the best player on the floor for her team. She's got quick feet and a ton of bounce. We loved her ball-handling skills and confidence with the ball in her hands. Her eyes were up, she saw the court and distributed well against a difficult opponent. Kieffer scored both from distance and by slipping through narrow seams to get to the rim. Hailey made three triples, went 4-of-4 at the free throw line and scored 21 points. We'll be paying attention to what the lefty can do going forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two more newcomers we liked:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='687389' first='Sophia' last='Olson'] – The 5'6 combo guard was in the starting lineup for Lakeville North and did a nice job. The 2026 prospect, who plays AAU for Ellen Wiese's Metro Stars, has solid fundamentals and plenty of potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Heidi Barber</strong> – The 5'11 forward from White Bear Lake really came on at the end of last season and coach Jeremy Post is excited about her potential. We liked what we saw from the 2024 prospect on Monday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":687450,"width":512,"height":505,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/06/Ava-Cupito_Amina-Allen_062623.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-687450" width="512" height="505" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TRANSFER PORTAL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's always interesting at the Breakdown summer events to see who shows up in what uniform for these exhibitions. That's usually a reliable clue that players have moved to a new school for the coming season. We had heard the rumors but on Monday it became official: Elite 2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='377584' first='Ava' last='Cupito'] and rising 2025 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='425385' first='Amina' last='Allen'] have both transferred from Minnehaha Academy to Hopkins. This might be a transition year for the Royals but the Hopkins roster is still deep and laden with experienced players. It remains to be seen what kind of impact the two newcomers can make.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other notable transfer on Monday came in the form of absence rather than presence. Although it has been public for a couple of months now, the odds-on favorite to be named #1 prospect in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2027 has made a move for her 9th grade year. That would be [player_tooltip player_id='377583' first='Mya' last='Wilson'], formerly of Mahtomedi, now of Hill-Murray. That's obviously a huge blow for the Zephyrs, although they looked no worse for the wear on Monday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NOTABLES AT ANOKA-RAMSEY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We weren't at the Anoka-Ramsey site for the four girls games there but based on reports emerging from those games here are a few standouts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='339129' first='Ja'Kahla' last='Craft'] – The 2024 guard from St. Michael-Albertville is having a rather remarkable summer and has been collecting Division 1 scholarship offers like a kid collects candy on Halloween. On Monday the #13-rated senior-to-be reminded us why with a 30-point performance in STMA's win over Delano. Incoming senior [player_tooltip player_id='304922' first='Ava' last='Haus'] was hot from distance, as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='296516' first='Regan' last='Juenemann'] – The guard from Duluth Marshall has been lighting it up for FBC Real this summer. At Anoka-Ramsey, the 15th-rated prospect in the Class of 2025 put up 33 points to lead the Hilltoppers to an impressive win over Buffalo. Incoming 8th grader [player_tooltip player_id='433933' first='Chloe' last='Johnson'] had 19 points in the game and delivered her usual playmaking excellence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='515689' first='Megan' last='Doughty'] – The 6-foot forward from Woodbury was impressive in the Royals' win over Orono. We've been projecting big things from the Minnesota Fury Premier standout. She is transferring from Stillwater to Woodbury this fall where her dad Brian is the head coach. Megan is ranked Top 50 among the 2026s.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='178273' first='Taylor' last='Tool'] – The 6'1 forward from Delano is one of the strongest prospects still available for colleges to sign from Minnesota's incoming senior class. The big forward scored 26 points for the Tigers on Monday. She's currently ranked #35 in the class of 2024 and is drawing plenty of D2 interest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='461361' first='Brylie' last='Guida'] – The guard from Buffalo has been very good this summer for the Minnesota Comets. We've profiled her improvement over the past few months and she has earned her way into the Top 150 in the Class of 2024 rankings. Guida scored 22 points for the Bison who had 19 from 2025 prospect <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='520271' first='Hayley' last='Rohlin']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->